Revilla pleads for court’s nod to attend daughter’s graduation

MANILA, Philippines – Not long after the Sandiganbayan allowed detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to attend the graduation of his son, now it’s senator Ramon Revilla Jr. who wants to attend the commencement rites of his daughter.

In a motion filed before the antigraft court First Division, Revilla pleads for the “compassion and understanding” of the court to allow him to attend the graduation rites of his daughter Ma. Fraznel Loudette Bautista at De La Salle Zobel in Muntinlupa from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on March 28.

“As a testament of her diligence and hard work as a student, Revilla was informed by his wife, Congresswoman Lani Mercado Revilla, that their daughter, Loudette, will receive the following awards: St. Mutien Marie Award, St. La Salle Award, and Alfonso Yuchengco National Discipline Award,” the motion said.

Revilla said he does not want to abuse the compassion of the court when it already allowed him to visit his son Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla when the latter was hospitalized supposedly for accidental shooting in the chest.

“As a proud father, Senator Revilla would want to share the momentous occasion with his daughter for his very important educational achievement and special milestone in her life,” the motion said.

Revilla filed the motion days after the court allowed his co-accused Jinggoy Estrada to attend the graduation of his son Julian Emilio at OB Montessori.

The court allowed Estrada to attend his son’s graduation because the child may be traumatized due to the absence of his father. “We’re not doing this for Senator Estrada. We’re doing this for the child,” Fifth Division chair Associate Justice Roland Jurado has said.

Estrada and Revilla are detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center for plunder by pillaging their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) through ghost projects for kickbacks. Detained in the hospital for plunder is Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.